Yeah the other one is on a shelf behind me. I plan to move another one out there here soon
New Fig Grower Looking for Advice
- Thread starter paupau
- Start date
Scored figs today. Went looking around for local growers and found someone with a bunch of figs. The one that I put in the stone rectangle bed was labeled "Yellow Long Neck". The small one at the top of the wooden bed was labeled "Hani" but the grower described it as a green honey fig. The large plant at the bottom of the wooden bed wasn't labeled but the grower described it as an Italian fig with a pink inside.
So its been
7 weeks since I started the proper fig pops
a little over 8 weeks since I originally started the cat food container pops and about 3 weeks since I restarted them.
a little over 10 weeks since I started the ziploc baggy celeste pops.
So far there hasn't been too much progress besides the ones that I have already posted about. About half of the proper fig pops molded over. Only one of the restarted cat food containers showed any signs of life (Alma) but it has since stalled out.
One would think if I did them too moist then more would have molded by now. But if I did them too dry then none would've molded. So since im surrounded by both extremes im not sure what to try next. Maybe just take off all the cling wrap from the cat food containers and start adding water?
Or at this point should I just put everything outside and let nature take its course?
As far as successes so far I just have 1 Hollier, 2 celeste, and 2 brown turkeys which have any sort of visible roots and top growth.
7 weeks since I started the proper fig pops
a little over 8 weeks since I originally started the cat food container pops and about 3 weeks since I restarted them.
a little over 10 weeks since I started the ziploc baggy celeste pops.
So far there hasn't been too much progress besides the ones that I have already posted about. About half of the proper fig pops molded over. Only one of the restarted cat food containers showed any signs of life (Alma) but it has since stalled out.
One would think if I did them too moist then more would have molded by now. But if I did them too dry then none would've molded. So since im surrounded by both extremes im not sure what to try next. Maybe just take off all the cling wrap from the cat food containers and start adding water?
Or at this point should I just put everything outside and let nature take its course?
As far as successes so far I just have 1 Hollier, 2 celeste, and 2 brown turkeys which have any sort of visible roots and top growth.
JC Figgy
Well-known member
1st time is always a learning curve. I’m glad you tried different methods to see what works best for you. Regarding soil compaction, that’s just how I do my fig pops and recommend others to do as well. It creates stronger and larger roots, its other advantage is that it holds together easier and can be handled easier when uppotting.
After re reading this long thread, a couple issues that may have caused the mold.
1: sometimes its out of your hands and just the cutting.
2: too high of temp humidity and no airflow where you were rooting them.
3: soil was too moist.
4: gnat larvae ate them up in the soil, and the cutting then rots or dried up.
Some of the Browning on leaves appears to be fungal rust , perhaps from too much humidity.
Glad you picks up some figs from local growers. Hani is the name of a local grower near me. Wonder if that’s one of his trees?
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Kompakfigs
Well-known member
Those are long branches. Try air layering both sides. You’ll feel more accomplished when they succeed.
Kompakfigs
Well-known member
Just keep doing. It’s better to fail with cheaper or free cuttings rather than with the boutique varieties.
I'm fairly certain the temps were a problem in my setup. In the future i definitely plan to do the rooting stage indoors somewhere in my house.
I had barely any gnats in the tent for most of the year. The handful that i did get was likely due to me having to start opening my garage for a bit at night to exhaust the heat. But the yellow traps seemed to have got them all as i don't ever see any flying around or on the exposed soil (which is mostly dry since i've avoided watering.
I do think that the different types of fig pops that I tried have different moisture requirements. The cat food containers seemed to dry up much quicker even with the cling wrap on top. The proper fig pops were more likely to be a heat problem than a moisture problem as its not like I see a ton of condensation on the inside of the bags. For the ones I did dump out the soil was mostly dry. If anything i'm thinking that the heat could have caused the moisture to expel from the soil and just stick to the sides of the containers - giving the illusion that the soil was moist when it really wasn't.
The remaining question is what do I do with the fig pops i have left? Should I re-start again and just put them outside? Or just keep them where they are? I imagine that even at this point, any cuttings that still have a green cambium layer are fair game.
I had barely any gnats in the tent for most of the year. The handful that i did get was likely due to me having to start opening my garage for a bit at night to exhaust the heat. But the yellow traps seemed to have got them all as i don't ever see any flying around or on the exposed soil (which is mostly dry since i've avoided watering.
I do think that the different types of fig pops that I tried have different moisture requirements. The cat food containers seemed to dry up much quicker even with the cling wrap on top. The proper fig pops were more likely to be a heat problem than a moisture problem as its not like I see a ton of condensation on the inside of the bags. For the ones I did dump out the soil was mostly dry. If anything i'm thinking that the heat could have caused the moisture to expel from the soil and just stick to the sides of the containers - giving the illusion that the soil was moist when it really wasn't.
The remaining question is what do I do with the fig pops i have left? Should I re-start again and just put them outside? Or just keep them where they are? I imagine that even at this point, any cuttings that still have a green cambium layer are fair game.
Pulled the remaining Tupperware pops out onto my porch. Only 6 left with any sign of life/green. The rest were devoid of any green and some even were falling apart. Again despite the appearance of moisture on the sides of the containers the soil itself was very dry. if I ever do Tupperware again i def need to just keep those ones exposed and water them from time to time.
JC Figgy
Well-known member
Good luck with those remaining ones. Yeah, they got too dry seems like it. That’s why I like to root them in my basement in a controlled environment. One that doesn’t get too cold or too hot.
Kompakfigs
Well-known member
I’m redoing 3 cuttings and have put them outside. Now, it’s just a matter of time if they succeed or die.
Same lol if he dies he dies.
Just finished restarting the proper fig pops. Even 50/50 split on the ones that survived so far. These ones were definitely still somewhat moist but not quite enough to hold shape. I saw several still green that were showing bumps so hopefully when I put these outside they will come to life.
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ETXfigs
Well-known member
There are so many different ways to propagate figs. Find out what works for you. I have 75% success rooting in spring time outdoors in Solo cups, and 20% indoors in winter. I am not going to propagate indoors again and I'm not interested in learning how to do it. If you have limited space this is a good video on 10 varieties for a complete collection and the Millennial Gardener is also in North Carolina.
Been a while since I gave an update.
So far the only cuttings that have thrived are the celestes I got from my dad's neighbor, the brown turkey I got from my uncle, and the LSU hollier (sole superbowl survivor which finally recovered from the leaf browning plague).
Since then I got an Italian, yellow long neck, and hand (honey?) Fig from a local grower which are all doing great.
I also have a couple RDB cuttings from @Kompakfigs which have surprised me that they are still alive/green although haven't put any growth on yet. I just restarted them in a pot and put them out on my deck last night. Also got a huge RDB from @cdh which is the tallest I have so far.
Also wound up getting a JH Adriatic from FigNFruit thats doing alright, a Kadota from lowes, and the 6 year old unknown from my Uncle which is still recovering from shock (still green). None of the cuttings I took from that one have shown any signs of life yet.
So far the only cuttings that have thrived are the celestes I got from my dad's neighbor, the brown turkey I got from my uncle, and the LSU hollier (sole superbowl survivor which finally recovered from the leaf browning plague).
Since then I got an Italian, yellow long neck, and hand (honey?) Fig from a local grower which are all doing great.
I also have a couple RDB cuttings from @Kompakfigs which have surprised me that they are still alive/green although haven't put any growth on yet. I just restarted them in a pot and put them out on my deck last night. Also got a huge RDB from @cdh which is the tallest I have so far.
Also wound up getting a JH Adriatic from FigNFruit thats doing alright, a Kadota from lowes, and the 6 year old unknown from my Uncle which is still recovering from shock (still green). None of the cuttings I took from that one have shown any signs of life yet.
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Kompakfigs
Well-known member
I’m glad my cuttings are still alive. 
Unc's Unk?
For nowI’m glad my cuttings are still alive.
Definitely gonna try some air layers once they get bigger to see if i have any better luck with that kind of propagation